How to play Track & Field online
The cartridge was sold with a special Track & Field controller, a pad with two run buttons and an action button. It also works with a normal joystick, where you run by moving the stick left and right. In the emulator:
- Run: press the left and right arrow keys one after the other, as fast as you can
- Set the angle: hold the Space bar
- Jump or throw: release the Space bar
- Choose one or two players and the difficulty level: F11 (the console’s Select switch)
- Start a new game: F12 (the console’s Reset switch)
- Second player: F and H to run, A for the action button
- Save and load your progress: Ctrl + 0–9 saves to a slot, Alt + 0–9 loads it
The difficulty switches and the TV type switch have no effect in this game.
The six events
You work through the events in order and must meet the qualifying time, distance or height in each before moving on to the next.
- 100-metre dash: a head-to-head sprint. Starting too early is a false start, and three false starts disqualify you.
- Long jump: build up speed, hold the button to set your angle, and jump before you reach the sand. You get three attempts.
- Javelin: run up, set the angle and throw before crossing the line. Three attempts again.
- 110-metre hurdles: another head-to-head race, this time over ten hurdles that you clear with the action button.
- Hammer throw: your athlete spins round to build up speed, and you choose the moment to let go. Three attempts.
- High jump: one push on the stick starts your run, then you set your angle and jump. Players take turns, and you must clear the bar without touching it.
The better your result in each event, the more points you score. With the Select switch you pick one or two players and one of three levels: Novice, Arcade or Expert. The qualifying marks get tougher at each level.
Tips
- Aim for about 45 degrees. The manual recommends an angle of around 45 degrees for the long jump and the javelin.
- Watch the colour in the hammer throw. Let go when your athlete turns red.
- Get close to the bar in the high jump. Take off as near to the bar as you can, then adjust your angle in the air to control your fall.
- Wait for the start. In the dash and hurdles, a false start costs you a chance. A slightly slow start is better than a disqualification.
History
Konami’s arcade Track & Field (Hyper Olympic in Japan) was released in 1983, ahead of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Atari held the home rights in North America. The 2600 version was at one point going to be called “Los Angeles 1984 Games”, and prototypes with that title still exist. The name was changed back to Track & Field before release.
The cartridge used extra on-board memory (Atari’s “Super Chip”), which allowed richer graphics and more variety than most earlier 2600 cartridges. Computer Entertainer gave it 7 out of 8 stars in 1984. But it came out just as Atari was in deep financial trouble and was made only in small numbers. The oversized box, built to hold the controller, is now hard to find in good condition. The label even carries the wrong part number, CX26127 instead of CX26125.
Similar games to play next
- The Activision Decathlon – ten athletics events with the same run-by-waggling idea
- Summer Games – Epyx’s multi-event Olympic game
- Winter Games – the snow-and-ice follow-up to Summer Games
- Sweat! The Decathlon Game – another take on the decathlon
- Kangaroo – another GCC-programmed arcade conversion